We are excited to share with you the new European Blue Forum website. We invite you to visit the site to learn more.

As a part of the European Blue Forum, we are creating a community. A community of different users of the sea, passionate and committed to working together to deliver bold and ambitious change to our shared challenges of nature and climate change.

As part of the Forum, stakeholders will have the opportunity to influence the structure and direction of the European Blue Forum in a balanced and inclusive way, and through this, the future of Europe’s Sustainable Blue Economy.

Members of the European Blue Forum will be invited to participate in dedicated meetings and workshops, as well as be given the opportunity to create dedicated Action Groups. These groups, with the support of the European Blue Forum Secretariat, will collaboratively work towards finding solutions to the biggest challenges facing our Sustainable Blue Economy Community and deliver collective impact.

Be part of the conversation and let’s find the solutions together….

Join the European Blue Forum

The European Commission has launched a call for application for stakeholders to have a stand at the European Maritime Day 2023, in Brest. Every year DG MARE organizes this flagship event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and outline joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy.

The last time stakeholders had the possibility to have a stand to showcase their project/initiative in an exhibition was 2019, before COVID. This year the Commission is bringing this nice feature back to the event and are looking for big projects or initiatives related to blue economy and maritime affairs, who might have a strong interest in this high-visibility event. 

The call for application is open to stakeholders based in the EU/EEA area or in accession countries. Deadline to express interest in purchasing a stand is Wednesday, 5 April midnight. DG MARE will review applications on an ad hoc basis. All info and request form to fill in can be found here: https://www.emd2023-exhibition.com/request-a-stand/2

"Innovative research and management for coastal restoration"

13-15 March 2023

Centro Universitario Regional Este (CURE), Maldonado

Online connection

https://salavirtual-udelar.zoom.us/j/84513414651?pwd=RmE3dHplOFFycWw4RkxJMXpnbkU2QT09

Meeting ID: 845 1341 4651

Access code: 2dbFCfNV!$

As announced at the last Steering Committee meeting and building on the extensive expertise and practical experience gained from more than 10 years of developing Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), DG REGIO has announce at the end of February,  the launch of the Smart Specialisation Community of Practice (S3 CoP), DG REGIO’s main source of support and knowledge sharing on the implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies.

The work of the S3 CoP will build on the experiences of existing Partnerships, drawing lessons from the past to address emerging and future needs of your regions and stakeholders. In practical terms, the S3 Community of Practice will carry out a wide range of activities to support all S3 thematic platforms and Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnerships (TSSPs), providing services such as:

• An up-to-date website on the overall activities of the platform and partnerships.
• The hosting of steering committee meetings.
• Support to new and existing TSSPs including, among others:

1. guidance material for all stages of collaborations.
2. monitoring and analysis of partnerships and their activities.
3. tailored service provision to the partnerships (e.g. support for governance models, (re)scoping, smart partnering, search for funding assistance, support to scale-up).

• Peer learning opportunities and cross-cutting analyses.

In addition, the S3 CoP will also host the Expression of Interest (EoI) for regions and stakeholders to start a new Partnership for Interregional Collaboration. The EoI will be open continuously, with two cut-off dates per year. In 2023, the first cut-off date will be in April, whilst the second will take place in September.

To facilitate planning and engagement of stakeholders, the S3 CoP has published a tentative (non-exhaustive) timeline with the key foreseen activities for the year 2023:

• 30 March 2023: launch of the S3 Community of Practice featuring the support to be provided to existing and new Partnerships. The new call for Expression of Interest (EoI) to new Partnerships will be launched at this occasion.
• April 2023: dedicated follow-up with support experts on partnerships’ needs, to initiate the service provision.  Also first deadline for call for the Expression of Interest for new Partnerships.
• May/June 2023: first Steering Committee meeting, together with Interregional Cooperation Working Group meeting.
• September 2023: second deadline for call for the Expression of Interest for new Partnerships.
• November 2023: second Steering Committee meeting.

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Registration for the S3 CoP launching event (available until 29 March): https://s3-conference.regio-events.eu/

S3CoP secretariat contact (by IDEA Consult): contact@s3-cop.eu

S3 CoP Twitter: @S3Cop_EU

Dear  Black Sea blue economy stakeholders,

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is a Horizon Europe co-funded partnership. It constitutes a network of 60 Partner institutions from 25 countries and the European Commission that enables an unprecedent effort to pool research and innovation investments and align national programmes at pan-European scale, taking into consideration the sea-basin (Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic and North Sea) and Atlantic Ocean dimension.

The partnership is focusing to boost the transformation towards a climate-neutral, sustainable, productive and competitive blue economy by 2030, while creating and supporting the conditions for a healthy ocean for the people by 2050. Achieving this vision through cooperation will enable addressing key EU policy objectives of Green transition, digital transformation and recovery and ultimately contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

With its ambition to make a major step in transforming the blue economy, the Partnership will actively seek engagement by launching, implementing and monitoring six co-funded calls for research and innovation proposals over a seven-year timeframe.

The first joint transnational call of SBEP is published:  Bluepartnership call

On DG  RTD’s website: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovation-news/european-commission-joins-forces-23-countries-through-sustainable-blue-economy-partnership-launch-2023-02-13_en

We believe you find this information interesting.

With kind regards,

BSVKC TEAM 

The EU-funded project Southern European Entrepreneurship Engine (South3E) aims to accelerate deep tech projects and solutions coming from research teams, start-ups and SMEs, which can positively affect social development and economic growth for a more sustainable future.

South3E is a joint initiative funded by the European Commission under the European Innovation Ecosystems SCALEUP call, part of the Horizon Europe Programme. The project will take 30 months and it will be managed by 4 partners from Portugal, Greece, Ireland and Spain. The team consists of experts from the research, innovation and acceleration ecosystem, together with policy and community building experts.

The first South3E open call

Today, the consortium of S3E – Southern European Entrepreneurship Engine has launched its first open call as part of the development of an engine of growth that will improve the connections and efficiency of the entrepreneurship ecosystems in Southern European countries.

In the framework of this open call, the South3E project will develop disruptive solutions built around unique or hard-to-reproduce breakthroughs, and products, processes or services capable of fulfilling currently unmet (or ill-met) market needs. This new engine will unlock the untapped innovation potential of Southern European deep tech, targeting scientific and technical excellence in the fields of agriculture, natural sciences, health, engineering and technology. 

The call is built around 3 tracks of services tailored to start-ups’ varying levels of maturity (i.e., early, growth, and scaling stages).

• S3E Start: for research teams and tech transfer offices, S3E offers a hands-on training programme to hone their commercial skills and secure early funding for development.
• S3E Charge: for grown start-ups, S3E provides mentoring and networking to develop an investment-ready business plan and facilitate access to non-dilutable and dilutable funding.
• S3E Reverse: for scaling start-ups and SMEs, S3E will set up an Open Innovation ecosystem to broker, connect and match corporates to scaling start-ups through a challenge-solution duality.

The deadline for applying to the S3E Open call is 10 February 2023, 17:00 CEST.

For more information about the project and the open call, check the S3E website.

In one week, the 4th edition of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum highlighting “The Eurasian nexus post 2022: high-stakes arena for security, trade and investments”, kicks-off in Athens Acropolis Museum on 13-14 December 2022, thus paving the way for a sincere, coherent and constructive dialogue, needed today more than ever before.

Secure your spot today to “Sharpen-the-saw”, Boost outreach and networking opportunities, Establish connections, Listen to insights, Engage & interact in spirited debates and constructive dialogues.

Among this year’s distinguished speakers:

* H.E. Željka Cvijanović, President, Bosnia and Herzegovina

* Ms. Angelina Eichhorst, Managing Director EUROPE, European External Action Service

* Mr. Xiao Junzheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China

* Mr. Peter Svec – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Slovakia

* Mr. Zdenko Lucić, State Secretary for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign & European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

* Ambassador Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

* Ms. Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director a.i, Europe-Turkey-Central Asia

* Mr. Wim Mijs, Chief Executive Officer, European Banking Federation

* Mr. Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General, International Road Transport Union

* Dr. Nikolas E. Farantouris, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law

* Mr. Wouter Zweers, Research Fellow, EU & Global Affairs, Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands

For more information regarding the event please check the Forum’s website: https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2022/

The Info Days for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy & Mobility - will now be held fully virtually instead of hybrid on 15-16 December 2022. 

The virtual Info Days will present the research and innovation topics proposed for 2023 under the Work Programme 2023-2024 of Horizon Europe  Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy & Mobility.

The sessions will give the opportunity to prospective applicants to learn more about the funding options under the new Work Programme with focus on twin green and digital transitions to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050.

The goal of the Info Days is to present 106 open topics of the Horizon Europe Cluster 5 calls for 2023 by way of a plenary and four parallel sessions.

For a detailed agenda, participation information and practical details, visit the event websiteSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

A separate virtual pitching session and brokerage session organised by the National Contact Points (NCP) will take place in the afternoon on 15 December. The brokerage session will provide to future project partners the opportunity to network, through dedicated meetings organised by sector. More information.

The Brokerage Event registration will be open from 7 November at 8:00 am until 28 November at 12:00 pm. News and updates will also be shared on social media via Twitter and LinkedIn. 

The deadline for applications for the Advanced Master in Sustainable Blue Economy has been extended to the 24th of October, 11:59 P.M. (Italian time)!

Further information 

The Black Sea is looking for its new young ambassadors who will be a BRIDGE between scientists and the general public!

The Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme
The Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme (BSYAP) is an ongoing programme developed in September 2020, under the H2020-funded Black Sea CONNECT CSA, to unite youth for the future of the Black Sea, for a healthy, resilient, and the sustainable Black Sea.

The first cohort of young ambassadors has played an important role in advocating marine sciences and a sustainable blue economy in the Black Sea, and in promoting the goals of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (Black Sea SRIA). The BSYAs have brought a novel dynamic to the Black Sea CONNECT CSA, especially regarding visibility and dissemination efforts. They have become a voice for the Black Sea youth in different platforms and places, with the vision of re-connecting and creating the missing links in the Black Sea between citizens and our oceans and seas, as well as policy and science. Last but not least, they have conducted bottom-up and local activities in their countries within the framework of the Awareness Raising Campaign.

After the positive impact of the first cohort and the success of the programme, the BSYAP has been linked with the H2020-funded BRIDGE-BS RIA project, to increase the impact of the program and its visibility and to ensure its sustainability. With BRIDGE-BS, not only the foundations of the BSYAs’ work and efforts but also the bridge they have established between society and science will be getting stronger and broader in scope.

Become the new voice of the Black Sea!
With the aim of engaging a wider community of early career ocean professionals and equipping them with the necessary skills to become actors for change; the Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme is looking for a new cohort of passionate and creative Young Ambassadors.

In the new cohort, each Ambassador will be asked to work more specifically on at least one of the Blue Economy themes according to their profession, such as Blue Bioeconomy & Biotechnology, Marine fisheries, aquaculture, and living resources, Marine non-living resources (oil and gas, other minerals) Marine renewable energy (Offshore wind energy, wave energy), Maritime transport, Research & Education, Tourism (Coastal and Cruise), Shipbuilding and repair, Cultural Heritage.  Ambassadors will be asked to focus their activity more specifically on the sector(s) that they are interested in/have experienced.

The engagement of the Young Ambassadors will enhance the visibility and actions of the Blue Growth Initiative in the Black Sea, increase the countries’ potential, and spread the research outputs and activities related to the Black Sea CONNECT and BRIDGE-BS.

The Young Ambassadors will collaborate with experienced mentors in the relevant countries around the Black Sea and Europe, to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.

Information about the Programme

Within this program, Young Black Sea Ambassadors from Black Sea riparian countries, including the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine, as well as the Republic of Moldova, together with the ambassadors of different sea basins, will engage with key actors from political, social, economic and scientific fields to develop the necessary skills to become actors for change in 2022-2024 and beyond.

Objectives of the Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme

• Training and equipping a new generation of young Black Sea citizens with knowledge, practical skills, and the potential to address issues on marine science, science & policy integration, and sustainable blue economy in the region.
• Developing a network of young influencers willing to be actors for positive change in their communities, countries, and beyond.
• Contributing to, and promoting, a richer mutual understanding of, values, identity, history, and cultures through a collective learning experience.
• Empowering the Young Ambassadors to take an active role in their communities and provide them with tools for social transformation.
• Allowing Young Ambassadors to meet scientists from leading Marine Science Institutes in Europe and beyond, contributing to their academic and professional career development.

For detailed information on Black Sea Young Ambassadors’ activities, you can visit the webpage.

Eligibility Criteria & Application Process

Young Ambassadors should be:

• Curious about the world, and the ocean. Interested in community building, science diplomacy, public engagement, education and training, and youth issues.
• Good communicators, and willing to use their creativity, imagination, and communication skills to help promote Blue Economy in the region (via blogs/videos/social media posts/performances and articles).
• Proficient in English, with a high level of English skills in both spoken and written forms
• Comfortable with public speaking.
• Aged between 20-35 years.
• Able to travel within their country and/or internationally.
• One of the following: i) early career ocean professional (early in their career – 10 years or less of professional experience – in any field related to the ocean) ii) MSc/MA/Ph.D. student or post-doc researcher who can demonstrate marine and maritime research, policy-relevant science and/or industry, iii) science communicator, iv) environmental NGO, v) activist, vi) science diplomat from the Black Sea countries. viii) a representative from a business/start-up that works with the Blue Economy Sectors.
• Able to volunteer to work as an ambassador until 2024 with possible extension.
• Committed to working in this program for two years from the period November 2022 and 2024 with the possibility of extension.

Application and announcement of results

Applicants are kindly requested to fill in the online application form (with the attachment of their CV) by 15 September 2022.

After reviewing the applications, shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the coordination team in the second half of September 2022. An online interview will be held with them. Selection results will be announced in late October 2022.

For detailed information on the Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme and Application Criteria please check the “Information for Applicants” document.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

APPLY NOW

The Black Sea React! – Pilot innovative solutions for fighting marine litter in the Black Sea research project aims to contribute to the regional dialogue on mitigating and effectively tackling marine pollution and marine litter, while at the same time seeking innovative solutions to salient problems. The project is co-funded by the European Commission under Grant Contract ENI/2020/421-957, coordinated by the BSEC PERMIS.

The project’s activities pilot an innovative circular economy solution to marine (plastic) litter by involving local fishermen and a coastal municipality from the Black Sea region. In parallel, it develops a strong and positive narrative on marine litter prevention targeting specifically young people. Provided the pilot is successful, the proposed activity will ultimately strive to promote a follow-up joint action involving various coastal municipalities from BSEC Member States to tackle marine litter. The target group involves municipalities from the Black Sea littoral countries, fishing communities from Sariyer Municipality of Istanbul (Türkiye) and young people and primary school students from all littoral countries.

It runs under the coordination of the Permanent International Secretariat of BSEC (BSEC PERMIS) in cooperation with the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), the GAMA Recycle A.S. and the Municipality of Sariyer. The USA Consulate in Istanbul is Associated Partner.

Within the framework of the Black Sea React! project, the Regional Essay Competition for the Youth “Saving our Sea: new ways to reduce marine pollution in the Black Sea”, a BSEC PERMIS and ICBSS initiative, was launched in the period May-September 2021. It aimed to raise awareness and motivate young people in the BSEC Member States to take action against the growing marine pollution challenge in the Black Sea.

The present collective edition includes the top ten essays of the Regional Essay Competition for the Youth. The essays were submitted by high-school students aged 15 to 18 years, citizens of the 13 BSEC Member States and addressed one or several questions, as follows: (a) How can you help tackle marine litter in the Black Sea region? Share your ideas and/or experiences!; (b) Why is marine litter prevention important?; (c) What do you think is standing in the way of a clean Black Sea?; (d) Have you ever participated in public or youth initiatives to collect marine litter? What would motivate you to do so?

On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the BSEC Organisation, the present edition aspires to foster a culture of eco-friendly behaviour and environmental consciousness in younger age groups, as well as to motivate the wider society to learn from its youngsters in adopting sustainable practices for reducing marine litter and marine pollution.

Special thanks go to the supporting team: Ms. Rositsa Stoeva, Ms. Georgia Chantzi, Ms. Ipek Hokkaci, Ms. Evgenia Logiotatou and Ms. Athina Korovesi, for their valuable support provided throughout the entire process.

The Future Science Brief N°8 “Marine Science Communication in Europe: A way forward” has been launched in a dedicated webinar by The European Marine Board on June 23, 2022!

Read more: MARINE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION IN EUROPE – NEW EMB FUTURE SCIENCE BRIEF | Black Sea Connect (connect2blacksea.org)